Gavin on Finley and Oliver: What He Wore: BOY style

Gavin is featured on today's post over at Finley and Oliver: What He Wore: BOY style: I am excited to introduce you to our super cute guest for {BOY style} this week! Meet Gavin - 2 years old. This little guy belongs to Nancy...

Raspberry Merlot Brownies

I concocted this for a party we went to over the weekend.  It was inspired by a cupcake I had a couple weeks ago...more on that later, here's the recipe I'd like to share:

Raspberry Merlot Brownies

2 sticks butter

7oz  semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 ¾ cups light brown sugar

4 eggs

1 2/3 cups flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup merlot

2 cups frozen raspberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt butter and chocolate over low heat (stir until smooth).  Beat sugar and eggs until smooth.  Add flour, cocoa, baking powder, merlot and chocolate.  Stir well.  Pour into pan lined with parchment paper.  Sprinkle raspberries on top.  Bake 50 minutes. 

Back to the inspiration.  I went cupcake tasting in Santa Barbara a couple weekends ago with my friend Tania.  We tasted all kinds of goodies from Alison of Sugar Cat Studio - Winner of Cupcake Wars on the Food Network.  Alison is super nice and her cupcakes are to die for!  If you're ever in the Santa Barbara area, make sure you stop off at one of the retail locations that sells her cupcakes.  Check out her website for all the different flavors.  Anyway, we got to taste 6 different cupcakes and my favs were the White Chocolate Coconut, Blackberry Syrah, and Cookies & Cream. I happened to have an opened bottle of merlot when I baked the brownies and thought why not. I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. It turned out very good : )

Play Mail

I saw these on Pinterest and thought it was a wonderful idea to get rid of some of my left over felt.  I made it with a velcro closure in the back.  I personalized one for each of my kids and made a bunch with zig zag stitch.

Below is a template for your use.